this was such a cute read. i'm just gonna pretend the guy wasn't creepy at times just because of the fact that the girl called him out for it! i had the best laugh reading this tbh.

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This manga followed a girl hamed Urushi, who runs a shogi club- except it's not really a club yet because there's only one other member. The other member is Ayuma, who Unish is sure has a crush on her - and he does, but he wants to beat her at shogi before he confesses anything.

One thing I enjoyed about this manga was learning about shogi, which descended from chess and has a similar set up/rules. I think I would have enjoyed this manga even more if I was more familiar with shogi/chess - I haven’t really played either before. I really liked that the manga started with a mini guide to shogi; this was very helpful for me since I had never heard of shogi before. I enjoyed this manga, but I wish there had been a bit more background on the characters/ character development. There wasn't much set up, so l didn't get as much insight to the characters and how they got to where they are as I would have liked. I also felt like not much happened during this first volume. I did enjoy the stoic character design of Ayuma and the rare times that he smiled.

rating: 3/5

This was incredibly adorable! Ayumu and Urushi are such cute lovable characters that I couldn't help but be dragged into their sweet story. The art style was also incredibly appealing. For some reason, every time Urushi said Nwha! on page, I was reminded of Nanachi's voice in Made in Abyss anime.!
This was a super, fun Manga. Loved it.

When Will Ayumu Make His Move? is a manga about shogi and also not. Mostly I'd say this is a romance series for guys that happens to have shogi at its center. Yaotome is the president of the shogi club, but there's only two members. Alongside her, is Ayumu, who's in love with the president, but has decided not to tell her before he beats her in a game. Yaotome then knows that the boy has a crush on her and tries to make him spill it out, but to no avail. Thus this series is mostly these two talking and playing the game, but we don't really get to see them playing. So, this isn't Hikaru no Go type of series at all, even though game moves and such are explained. This is more like a relationship manga than anything other. Though once again I don't know how long can you get something out of this, if the content stays the same. This happens a lot with simple plot lines.

The art is simple and the story line moves from a conversation to another. I do like the characters though and their interaction is nice. I wish we'd see more of the games though, since I'm not so familiar with shogi and thus seeing them actually play would be great. This is simple romantic humor mostly, but perhaps that works for those who like it.

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I thought this was a cute book. I do not read a lot of Slice of Life manga, but this was a nice change of pace. Yaotome really likes the game Shogi as well as being excellent at the game. Her and Ayumu are the only members of the Shogi club. Yaotome is really cute, she constantly tries to get Ayumu to admit he has a crush on her, all the while Ayumu decides he won't admit his feelings until he beats her in Shogi.

It's a cute concept for a manga and a fun fast read.

This was a very cute slice of life romance. I love all the details of shogi, tho sometimes it took away from the romance. I love the character's interactions, and how they are drawn. I feel like if you are a fan of the manga artist's other manga, then I think this book is for you.

This was a fun, cute, and intriguing manga will-they-or-won't-they book. I was intrigued to see that it will be made into an animated series as well. The author did a great job of creating a guide to Shogi and comparing it to Chess while pointing out the differences. This allowed me as the reader to understand how the strategy in the game is reflected in the strategy between the two protagonists.

I thought the chemistry was very cute and the friendship was fun to watch grow and evolve. I think fans of manga series will love reading this series and following along on Ayumu's journey to win at shogi and get the girl.

Shogi is the game of intellect. Similar to chess, the game has you attempt to take control of the board and capture your opponent’s king. Strategy is key to victory, with the need to prep many moves ahead in order to secure the win. But just as hard as shogi is the game of love, so imagine if you’re the type of person that’s forced to play both of them at the same time. That’s the premise of Soichiro Yamamoto’s latest series When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, as two players set out to defeat each other both in shogi and in the art of the love confession.

Urushi has the goal of creating a shogi club, but the only person who shows up is Ayumu, a former kendo club member. Ayumu does his best to learn the game of shogi, as Urushi shows him the key rules and tips in order to gain victory. However, Ayumu often finds himself entranced by Urushi’s cuteness, something that leads her to believe that he has a crush on her. Yet despite her constant grilling, Ayumu just won’t admit his love for the shogi player.

One of the things that I appreciate about the premiere volume is that it begins with a complete guide on how the game of shogi works. As someone who has had a travel-sized board for nearly 15 years, this comes in handy when it comes to finally learning how to play the game. Not only does it dive deep into the rules and meanings of the pieces, but it also gives you tips on some of shogi’s most powerful moves. While it’s not the type of game you can learn overnight, I now feel like I can actually play shogi somewhere down the line.

As for the story of When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, it does start off in a rough patch. Yamamoto drops his readers in deep into the relationship between Urushi and Ayumu, without explaining when and how the former kendo player got roped into joining the unofficial club. Because of this, you don’t get a real sense of who these two characters truly are. With that being said, you do get a sense of how they both feel for one another.

Whether or not Ayumu’s complimenting Urushi as a strategy to win at shogi remains to be seen. However, it’s evident that Ayumu really likes Urushi, so it’s safe to say that his kind words never ring hollow. There’s also the fact that Ayumu hopes that the club never expands, as he wants Urushi all to himself. Yet despite this confession, Ayumu still won’t budge when Urushi asks if he likes her.

There’s a similar tone in When Will Ayumu Make His Move? that’s akin to Yamamoto’s modern-day classic rom-com Teasing Master Takagi-san. Both have protagonists that share feelings for one another, while at the same time compete in a certain kind of game to rile up the other person. The main difference is that Takagi-san and Nishikata play loads of games in order to get a feeling for one another; Ayumu and Urushi have just one that they both want to focus on. Said difference definitely gives more room for Takagi-san to be more creative with her competitiveness; Ayumu, on the other hand, has to use much bigger brain in order to conquer both the one singular game and the heart of Urushi.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing for the story to just focus on one game rather than a plethora of them. However, I worry that this may force Yamamoto into a corner later on in the manga’s lifespan. While it’s a very cute-looking series (with the author’s love for women with big foreheads ever-so apparent), When Will Ayumu Make His Move? needs to prove that it’s not just a one-note rom-com that milks the same situations over and over again. The first volume does good with some of the humor and sweetness, but the merely decent execution just makes me want to go back and read & watch more of Takagi-san.

Cute. I quite enjoyed my read. From the cover, I expected the guy to be older than the girl but turns out, he is one year younger. We follow Yaotome, who is the president of the Shogi Club, and Ayumu, who is learning how to play. It is established from the beginning that Ayumu is in love with Yaotome but that he won’t confess until he beats her at Shogi.
This shojo is made of several short chapters showing our two main characters playing shogi and/or showing us how Yaotome is trying to make Ayumu confess. It is quite funny and really sweet but overall, I felt like the story did not really move forward. I wonder how the next volumes will go because I feel like the story will end once Ayumu confess (or maybe we’ll get to see how their relationship evolves).
I recommend to people looking for a fun and entertaining read.
3.5/5

This manga follows two teens who are constantly playing a popular game called shogi. The love interest refuses to confess his feelings or ask her out until he beats her but that doesn’t mean he won’t flirt.

The two of them were so cute! I loved all of their banter back and forth and their growing friendship and relationship. I really enjoyed that we sort of got short stories of the two of them on different days. It kept the story fresh and kept it from falling into being too repetitive.

I honestly cannot wait to read more about these two! This a great, wholesome and hilarious romance manga perfect for anyone needing something light and easy to fly through.

4.5/5⭐️

Soichiro Yamamato's 'When Will Ayumu Make His Move?' is a sweet manga following Yaotome, Ayumu's senpai, who runs the Shogi club at their school. She's convinced her underclassman has only joined the club because of a crush, and she's determined to trick him into confessing before he's ready.

Each chapter focuses on the game of Shogi, with Ayumu swearing to not ask Yaotome to be his girlfriend until he can beat her at the game. As is normal for most narratives I read that revolve around board games, I found myself not too interested in that side of it. However, this is a very cute introduction to an easy-to-read series, and being an expert on the game isn't a prerequisite for enjoying the series. I'm looking forward to the next volume and seeing how Ayumu finds new members of the group to make Yaotome happy!

(3.5/5)
Got this ARC from NetGalley exchange for an honest review.

This is my second manga that is from Kodansha comics. I would say this one was not as good as I expected.

So the story is about Senpai and Ayumu, two people that are in the same shogi club. They both have feelings for each other, you can clearly see it, but the guy won't admit it until he has beat the girl in shogi. Senpai is usually always getting embarrassed, cause Ayumu is pretty bold with giving her compliments, but wouldn't admit his feelings for her.

I loved the drawings, they were cute, simple and you could understand it pretty well.

Tho I didn't like the story as much, could be cause I'm not too familiar with this shogi game, so it was hard to understand from this point of view. But I really appreciate that author left extra information about the game.

When reading this type of cute romance mangas, I would expect to feel their relationship maybe a bit stronger, it lacked something to get you actually really invested.

Thanks again for accepting my request. I look forward to reading other volumes, cause you never know how much maybe you'll like it a bit later :)

Muchas gracias Netgalley por el envío de una copia avanzada en formato digital a cambio de una reseña sincera.

Este manga me pareció adictivo, fresco y gracioso. Básicamente se trata de dos chicos de una secundaria que forman parte de un club de Shogi, en el que pasan mucho tiempo juntos.

El romance es sutil, puesto que aún siendo el primer tomo, es muy reciente y unilateral. No obstante, hacia el final del tomo se puede ver ya un pequeño cambio en la protagonista respecto a sus sentimientos por el chico.

Es una historia dulce y refrescante, ideal para leerla en una sentada.

This manga is a sweet story about a high schooler named Ayumu and his sempai Yaotome. Both of them are in shogi club together and both have a crush on each other. The only hold up is that Ayumu won't ask Yaotome out or acknowledge his obvious feelings for her until he beats her at shogi! This first volume consists of light and flirty banter between them that I felt could be successfully wrapped up in one volume rather than a series. I did like that the author included a good amount of information on the game, so I rated it a star higher for that.

A very adorable romantic comedy which leans away from the heart-gripping moments that will leave a reader lovestruck and goes straight for the belly laughs. This is a really fun palette cleanser for a shoujo lover who has had enough of the more intense titles in the genre and also great for someone with an interest in Shogi or games in general.

This was such a cute manga. I really liked the plot: Urushi knowing Ayumu likes her but isn't 100% sure, while he does like her but wants to be worthy enough to ask her out. I love how he told her that he liked her (by saying she's cute, etc) but would never ask her out. I would definitely read the next volumes.

This is perfect for fans of Kaguya-sama, love is war. We have 2 people who are in a shogi club together. They both have feelings for each other. She is waiting for him to admit it. He won't admit it until he can beat her at Shogi. So, they are stuck in limbo as he learns the ropes.
It's adorable and funny. If you think it sounds interesting, pick it up?

This was a really cute first volume! I don't know much about shogi, so I appreciated the explanations for how the game worked. The only thing I can see as a potential downfall for the rest of the series is how repetitive it will get. Nonetheless, I'm interested to see where this story goes!

Though I, myself, have never gotten into the game of Shoji, I'm glad that the author gave additional information/displays that I had the opportunity to learn more and understand what the characters were doing.

I thoroughly enjoyed the artwork and loved the theme of being unable to profess love/ask to date until 'X' is achieved; in Ayumu's case he wants to defeat Yaotome in Shoji, while in Yaotome's case she just wants Ayumu to say it first.

Keeping it in a light-hearted mood with the sheer bluntness of Ayumu's feelings without blatantly telling Yaotome he likes her, the volume kept me grinning as I read.

[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC in exchange for an honest review]

Ayumu is the junior at his school’s shogi club and, in fact, the only other member besides Yaotome, his cute sempai. They play constantly and are very attracted to one another, but Ayumu has promised himself he won’t confess until he beats Yaotome and, given his skill level, they might be pensioners before that happens.

We move from the middle school burgeoning feelings of <i>Teasing Master Takagi-san</I> to the already hormonal halls of high school for this one and it turns out that works really, really well. In fact, I think I might like it better.

Part of this is the balance - <I>Takagi-san</i> was cute but the story always ended the same way, with the male lead losing. That has not changed here, but Ayumu is constantly losing one game while Yaotome is very badly losing the <i>other</I> game (arguably they both are). It makes it a bit more fun.

Ayumu’s endless stoicism is great because the book wisely doesn’t conflate that with being uncaring. He isn’t ready to confess, despite many near misses (and poor Yaotome catches every single one), but he has no issue being free with the compliments and it’s a nice touch. It’s nice having an intense character who isn’t inherently dull.

Yes his pledge is dumb - I get the whole wanting to be equal thing, but get over yourself - but without it we wouldn’t have a book. I think accepting that is probably the biggest barrier to entry, though I do at least get where that’s coming from.

For her part, Yaotome has no trouble expressing herself and her reactions are half the fun - I love her trademark ’NWHA!?’ when Ayumu scores a direct hit. She is constantly trying to maneuver him into saying something, but the book cleverly makes it known that Ayumu’s strength is in playing defence.

As for how much shogi knowledge you need for this story, I am happy to say it is exactly none. There is a handy printer at the start for the curious, but I know exactly as much as I did before, which is ‘this is sort of like chess’.

What I do kind of love is how the shogi is used and how manages to cater to both the newbie and the hardcore. For the latter, several chapters end with full records of the game our leads were playing, so you can follow it along move by move.

For everybody else, well, more than once the circumstances of the game reflect what’s happening in the story at large. The best example is the Invincible Wall chapter, which you can see the ending of very quickly but is no less fun for it.

The author also smartly makes a point of staging chapters outside the club so the setting doesn’t get stale, but honestly the bloom never came off the rose in that respect. The running gag/drama about member recruitment is also very well realized.

The chapters see nice and short too, which keeps them punchy and doesn’t drag any one gag out any longer than it needs to be. Throw in a pair with great chemistry and what more can you ask for?

5 stars - give me a couple worth watching and endless cute moments and you’ve got me, it’s really that simple. The story might not be new at a primal level, but the way it’s telling it is and that makes a ton of difference. It’s probably more of a 4 star, really, but I have read a lot of mediocre (and worse) stories this week and this is hands down the best thing I’ve seen so far, no question.